By Marlon Martens

15 year old Stands Out in Playoffs

Verhoeff’s Whirlwind Season

Apr 1, 2024 | 5:20 PM

The whirlwind season continues for Royals defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, who at just the tender age of 15, already has WHL regular season games under his belt, represented his country on the national stage at the Youth Olympic Games, and now WHL playoffs.

On top of that, he was in the starting line up both nights in his post season debut, paired up with NHL drafted defenseman, Justin Kipkie.

“I wasn’t really thinking about that, to be honest. It’s an honor obviously to play there, but I was more worried about my game, what I can do to help the team and, our team success in general and make sure we’re going on to do things that we’re planning…”

There are several four year veterans with over 220 regular season games, that still hadn’t dressed for a single playoff game, including overage forward Dawson Pasternak, yet Verhoeff now has a couple under his belt and he’s not even 16.

“I was a little nervous going into my first playoff game. It’s a cool experience going to Portland to play there. Get a good start. They put their physicality on us, but I think we can keep on our way and keep going on here.”

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Victoria bench boss James Patrick had high praise for Verheoff after a 5-1 loss in game two in Portland.

“I can’t say enough (good things). I would say he was either our best player or our top two players. When I talk about the battle, the compete, no fear, making plays, no fear of holding onto pucks, no fear of the physical play, – he led the way for our team. I need a few other guys to play the way he played.”

The praise is not lost on the humble Fort Saskatchewan native.

“I don’t take that stuff too lightly. It’s obviously an incredible deal for James have that belief in me, it’s great to have that support in me. As a 15 year old coming into the playoffs, it’s a little tough to find my way, and find my role, but to have him talk over that with me, it’s good. It’s helpful for me to play with confidence and try to do whatever I can do to help the team.

The applaud could also be seen as a message to other players on the team, to pull up their socks. Verhoeff also knows that the coach doesn’t play favourites, and the potential exists to be called out as well.

“Exactly, I’m not going to have a good game every time. Everyone else isn’t going to have their best game, every game. When we have some guys down, somebody has to step up and I think I’ve, had some games where I haven’t played well and other guys have stepped up and helped help whatever they can do.

“We have a lot of guys in this team that competing and battling as hard as they can. That’s just what our atmosphere is like here. And it’s incredible to have all those guys behind me, supporting me and helping me, and I’m trying to do the same for them as well.”

There’s some hockey bloodlines too, as Verhoeff is second cousins with Colton and Kirby Dach, through his Mother’s side.  More on that here: https://royalsfan.ca/2023/05/11/keaton-verhoeff-franchise-pillar-on-defense/

Other teams are starting to take notice of the Royals 6’3, 190 pound future pillar on defense, and have started to put a target on his back, knowing he’s a threat. The Winterhawks have increasingly started to take liberties on him, and often Verhoeff has eluded them with his amazing agility for his size and quick feet. He’s also remained quite disciplined, and limited retaliation, showing a maturity beyond his years.

“They come hard. However our system is built to make sure we’re going back the other way faster. So I’m getting back to pucks fast and I’m trying to move the puck up the ice as well as I can and take the check, make a play, and see what happens from there.”

The fourth overall selection played for Rink academy in Kelowna, who finished fourth in the CSSHL, and his coached by Hall of Famer Jerome Iginla. CSSHL has a different style playoff format, as it’s done in one weekend, and with Rink falling in the semi finals, no medal, similar to his tournament with Canada and the Youth Olympics at the end of January. The timing of it all has put Verheoff already in the second season frame of mind, however the best of seven format is new territory.

“It helps coming off of my playoffs in general, gives me a little more experience on how to play in it. Obviously it’s a different game in the WHL. You’re playing more physical, playing like we’re trying to compete for a seven game series. It’s a long series that you’re going to battle throughout the whole thing. You can’t just worry about one game and then you’re done with that team. You’re seeing them again the next day. So it’s a big, long battle.”

Iginla has 81 NHL playoff games under his belt including taking the Flames to the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay in 2004. The Calgary legend holds the franchise record for goals and points in a Flames uniform. Iginla is one of 20 players in NHL history to score 600 goals, totaling 625 over his 21-year career. Iggy also won several awards, including the Maurice Richard (2x), Art Ross, and Ted Lindsay. Surely, the two time CHL Memorial Cup Champion would bestow some nuggets of advice for his players regarding playoff hockey.

“He’s got an Olympic gold medal, so in that tournament that we have, that’s like the same kind of short term competition you have in the Olympics.” drawing a parallel,

“It’s just a lot of belief, believe in yourself, believe in our team, believe in what we can do as a group. And although we played well throughout the tournament and just had a tough game in the end, what he gives you and what he gives our team, it’s incredible. His smarts and just general sense of hockey and what to do to win… it’s unreal to have him.”

Speaking NHL pedigree, Verhoeff defensive partner on the Royals is Justin Kipkie, the NHL’s Arizona Coyote’s 5^th round selection.

“He’s obviously a great partner, being drafted into the NHL, there’s not much else you need to say. He’s really able to support me well and if I make a bad play and I’m there as well to help him.He can do so much with the puck, so much offensively, and he’s so strong in the defensive zone two which makes me feel more comfortable playing with him out on the ice.

With the puck about to be dropped in Victoria for the first time in five years in the post season, the excitement level couldn’t higher.

“Yeah, I’m, I’m pumped. It’s my first year but there’s guys here that haven’t played in the playoffs yet at home and they’ve been here for over 220 games and I’m excited for them to get to experience, see what it’s like in Victoria. They’re such great fans too, so we’ll see what happens with our playoff atmosphere. Hopefully we can get a good loud crowd going and enjoy the game.”

The fans in Portland often give the added sense of a seventh man, and Victoria is looking to do the same.

“Us coming here having the support from our fans, it is going to be incredible. It’ll give us that extra little boost we need and to keep playing our hardest, and see what happens from there.

“Our goal is to win and we’re just going to keep on working and hopefully the team comes together, strings a couple of wins together here.”